Completed July 2021
SUCH A FUN AGE
One of my greatest pet peeves in fiction is when the events described in the synopsis only happen once the story is half told. Not only does it eliminate the element of surprise, but it results in a novel predestined to a certain pivotal point which makes the build up feel a bit less enticing. Such a Fun Age does not fall into this trap. The promised drama is out of the way within the first chapter, leaving the rest of the book wide open to explore the consequences.
This made for exhilarating reading, as I had honestly no idea where the narrative was headed. The plot was agile, dipping into many territories briefly, and exploring important issues with a light handed touch. Some of the writing was so subtle I found myself scrutinising every word – wondering if I was reading too far into the implications. Just as frequently I felt the need to pause, just to chew things over and digest. I loved the complex moral questions, the delicate exploration of the deepest questions. It was layered reading, and fascinating.
This being said, at no point was the writing heavy, or overly difficult to transverse. The plot was energetic and playful, easy to devour. I loved the twists and turns, and the very minor occurrences – a small social faux pas, a badly worded compliment – which turned the tide of the story, and in particular the relationships it explored.
The characters were strong, distinct and constantly fallible. The contrast between Emira and Alix/Alex was so enthralling, and hilarious at times as their repeated miscommunications fired up friction more often than not. It's not an entirely unexpected consequence of two totally different perspectives, but the commonalities they found never smoothed out the bumps, instead widening the chasm as time went on. Alix was great to read as so much of her personality was relatable, and I empathised with her greatly, especially at the beginning – until she'd do something completely inappropriate, and yet totally in fitting with her worldview. I also enjoyed the impact of her close circle of friends, who were somehow simultaneously supportive and totally toxic. You can see her reliance on them for validation for her beliefs, which was difficult when what she really needed was someone to call her out. As judgemental as her circle could be (immediately piling on the pressure for her to lose weight, for example) they either lacked the ability – or desire – to challenge her when it was truly important to do so.
Alix's self doubt is mirrored in Emira, who also looks to those around her for answers. This was trickier to read as I found Emira's instincts to be true, yet her confidence often faltered in ways which honestly made me quite emotional. Seeing her question her own thoughts so frequently felt like an unfortunately accurate representation of how it is to be a woman in her 20s. This was especially stark given some of the challenges she faced in the novel, some of which were alien to me – her worries about health insurance, for example, an obligation I am grateful never to have to contend with. I learned a lot about the American system in this regard and I don't think to call it horrifying would be too much of an exaggeration. It's no wonder Emira struggled to relax with this pressure on her back, and I found myself rooting for her even more for that reason.
Kelley was an interesting character as well. We never quite delve into his perspective as we do the two leading women, which leaves us with as many questions as we have answers. His behaviour is contradictory – at times, demonstrating flawless allyship, and at others seemingly oblivious to how he is making Emira uncomfortable. Despite this I always held the impression that he possessed a long-term strategy, and his actions were carefully designed in order to further it. This was never confirmed, but I never quite trusted him, or believed his intentions were as pure as Emira believed. Even when the truth about his past with Alix emerged he was never truly vindicated, nor did we receive solid evidence his character had developed with time.
For me, this was probably the most unsatisfying aspect of the novel. The events that unfolded seemed like the perfect platform for growth and yet we never quite reached the heights I was hoping for. In particular I was desperate for Emira to find her place in the world, to claim her strength and narrative as her own. And yet none of the cast really strayed that far from who they were before. In a way this was an accurate reflection of the rest of the novel – flawed characters, doing their best, with destinies just as well intentioned but inevitably imperfect.
“Alex was alone, and the one thing she still had was the freedom to follow the narrative that suited her best.”